(CNN) – Ted Nugent, the rocker whose comments about President Barack Obama have come under scrutiny, will be interviewed by agents with the Secret Service, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

The interview, scheduled for Thursday, comes amid outcry over comments Nugent made at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, which took place in St. Louis this past weekend.
"If Barack Obama becomes the president in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year," Nugent said, according to a video posted on YouTube by the NRA. "If you can't go home and get everybody in your lives to clean house in this vile, evil, America-hating administration, I don't even know what you're made out of."

Many have questioned whether Nugent was alluding to violence against the president in his remarks.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, solicited donations from supporters using the comments, calling them "despicable, deplorable and completely beyond the pale."

In a radio interview Wednesday, Nugent said he was looking forward to meeting with the agents.

"We actually have heard from the Secret Service, and they have a duty, and I salute them, I support them," Nugent said on Glenn Beck's radio show. "I'm looking forward to our meeting tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be a fine gathering backstage in Oklahoma."

The U.S. official said the Secret Service would not issue a statement, nor publicly provide details of what transpires during the interview, after the meeting with Nugent.

The official said Secret Service policy is to acknowledge every American's right to free speech while still determining an individual's intent.

Nugent, like any interviewee, is allowed to bring a lawyer.

Nugent's comments sparked particular furor because the musician and activist has endorsed GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul responded to comments from Nugent on Tuesday, saying "divisive language is offensive no matter what side of the political aisle it comes from."

soundoff(266 Responses)

Since when does the ability to play a guitar make anyone an expert on anything other than playing a guitar?

Mr. Nugent and anyone else who questions other people's love of their country based on differing political views need to take a long hard look at themselves. The right to have an opinion of your own is one of America's basic principles.

April 18, 2012 11:11 pm at 11:11 pm |

carlyt1

This guy should be behind bars. If this was the Bush admin and he said these things about Bush he would have been locked up a long time ago.

April 18, 2012 11:14 pm at 11:14 pm |

jimzcarz

It's a FreeForAll

April 18, 2012 11:16 pm at 11:16 pm |

ThinkAgain

Remember when the Dixie Chicks said they were "ashamed" of President Bush and how their concerts were cancelled and they received death threats?

Nugent calls for the murder of politicians and where's the right wing? Silent, completely silent, including Mittens, who actively sought Nugent's "endorsement."

If this doesn't prove that the GOP does NOT believe in democracy (i.e., the allowing of opinions different than theirs) and DOES believe it's their way or the highway (or worse), then I don't know what does.

Obama/Biden 2012

April 18, 2012 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm |

Mcds

Romney needs to come forward himself and denounce this rhetoric. How hypocritical!

April 18, 2012 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm |

Norm

Ted should have been arrested years ago.

The only thing that keeps him out of jail is his money and his relationship with Fox .
The best thing we can do with Teddy is to make his predictions come true.
I would love to see someone like him either in jail or in a box.

April 18, 2012 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm |

rep

Romney has no class. He couldn't flatly disavow Limbaugh's disgusting comments before and he can't bring himself to disavow Nugent's rants now. I'll never understand how these GOP clowns can be so openly hateful towards just about everyone and everything other than themselves still manage to get people vote for them. It truly boggles the mind.

April 18, 2012 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm |

Rachel

This fool, which is even hard to believe is a human being, is so starved for attention that he will do anything and at all cost to get it. This pathetic soul is nothing but a disgrace to the human race. And furthermore, aside from his BIG FAT MOUTH, he kills animals and uses them as trophies.

Personally, I think our current administration and all judges, should throw his a*s in jai, and feed him to the wolves. Let the BIG boys have their time with him in prison. Maybe THAT'LL finally set him straight and shut up his fat mouth.

Ted Nugent is nothing but a useless, pathetic P.I.G.

April 18, 2012 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm |

Tony Spinner

With the negative fame the secret service has acquired lately, I'm very sure Ted Nugent will be the woman of at least three agents tomorrow... He hehehe

April 18, 2012 11:18 pm at 11:18 pm |

Catmandew

Be ready Ted you have voiced your opinion about the worst POTUS in history. You will be called a racist. I on the other hand agree with you.Obama has done a very poor job at just about everything. He is still blamein it all on Bush. A quick thought if it is still Bush's fault then Clinton got Bush SR'S recovery when he was elected!

April 18, 2012 11:18 pm at 11:18 pm |

king

Its amazing how these right wing lunatics can spew their hatred, and its acceptable, but when a left winger make a gaff these right winged milk it for all its worth. Lunacy is accepted in the repubs party. They don't believe in facts science or reality. Is this the party we want to lead us in the next century. Emotions and fictions theories are not what Americans want, they want logic and reality, go Obama.

April 18, 2012 11:18 pm at 11:18 pm |

abison09

u cannot be a republican without saying stupid things start with Romney who thrown the scriptures under bus playing dirty politic but his wife is a pure member, i like her. i like u sister.

April 18, 2012 11:20 pm at 11:20 pm |

Martyr2

Really? Really?!?! Here is a hint, why don't you people in Washington spend less time going after people for what they said and instead actually fix some problems with the government. Then perhaps you will find less people actually say less bad things about you. Just saying.

April 18, 2012 11:21 pm at 11:21 pm |

normajean @ verizon ,com

According to the news media, Romney sought this mans endorsement which doesn't say much that is acceptable for a man who is supposed to be running for president. In fact, Neugent is so vulgar I can't imagine anyone even wanting to be in the same room with him. He's dirty inside and out!!!!!!! This will turn out to be just anotherstrike against Romney!!!!!

April 18, 2012 11:22 pm at 11:22 pm |

TSmith

I bet he will cry and say "I did not mean any harm to the president" please don't hurt me.

April 18, 2012 11:22 pm at 11:22 pm |

rude

Don't know why this psycho isn't in jail from last time he threatened officials. I guess he has to actually KILL somebody before we take his threats seriously.

April 18, 2012 11:22 pm at 11:22 pm |

TSmith

Then again the way these secret service man are doing they just might High 5 him!

April 18, 2012 11:24 pm at 11:24 pm |

Dave Engle

Flat out, Nugent has a right to say whatever the heck he wants! isn't that what America is all about? I don't believe he would ever do anything or even have the slightest intent to harm our president. He just wants his freedoms protected just like the rest of us. He is probably concerned that if the present administration stays in place, our rights will be infringed upon, especially our 2nd amendment rights. He probably fears that if the government shows up at his door to collect his guns and other weapons, he won't be to amicable to that request, and rightly so as neither would I or any other red blooded American!! and Wait isn't this the same secret service that just got busted for there little escapades in Columbia?? who can really take them that seriously now...

April 18, 2012 11:24 pm at 11:24 pm |

zap

Ted should call them and ask them to bring aiong a few hoolers too, since they like to screw people over

April 18, 2012 11:25 pm at 11:25 pm |

PDH

Give me a break.......Secret Service obviously doesn't have anything else to do. What a waste of money and time. Idiots!

April 18, 2012 11:26 pm at 11:26 pm |

Tammy lambert chandler az

Wait a minute!! Nugent's comments did not spark particular furor because the musician and activist has endorsed Mitt Romney, that is incorrect. The comments sparked furor because Ted Nugent suggested he may be in jail if no one else ended Obama. In a clear message he has threatened the president.

April 18, 2012 11:27 pm at 11:27 pm |

j

What a total turd! The Nuge gets more old and senile and paranoid every year. His music was never any good and his image has done nothing but hurt the hunting industry by portraying hunting and outdoor enthusiast as a bunch of crazy nut jobs that shoot animals in pins and on canned hunts. If he had to hunt for real he would starve. Please Ted quite representing hunters and gun enthusiast, your not helping us anymore. You have become a JOKE!!

April 18, 2012 11:28 pm at 11:28 pm |

Tammy lambert chandler az

I hope the Secret service remembers to record their interview with Nugent.

April 18, 2012 11:28 pm at 11:28 pm |

irma

i feel he doesnt have any respect how he think he is to judge anyone he is not god